Port Security Applied Policy Project - Belfer Center for Science and ...

Problem 2: Inaccessibility of the Port Complex
The Los Angeles County Fire Department is the lead agency for managing CERT
programs throughout the Operational Area. The department chairs the Operational
Area’s CERT Advisory Committee, which also includes the Sheriff’s Department and the
Los Angeles Fire Department, and is tasked with developing a coordinated CERT
program for the Operational Area. 98 The CERT Advisory Committee is currently
developing a 2003 CERT Work Plan that includes the following: 99100
“We don’t want to be treated as victims.
We want to be treated as partners, who
have expertise and capabilities that can
be helpful during the first response
efforts. We want to be part of the
planning, training, vigilance, and
response efforts. Our people are in the
trenches and know the port as well as
anyone.”
- President, ILWU Local 26 99
PMA totally supports [voluntary CERT
training for port workers].”
- Vice President of Training,
Pacific Maritime Association 100
1) Needs assessment and program
priorities.
2) CERT Standards
3) CERT training materials
4) CERT “Train-the-Trainer” capability
5) Method for gathering CERT statistics
and program accomplishments
Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca has
articulated a goal of providing CERT
training to 100,000 county citizens and has
voiced particular concern about the need for
“training target groups in high-risk areas,”
such as workers at the port complex. 101 The
International Longshore and Warehouse
Union (ILWU), other harbor-based unions, and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA)
agree that port workers should be CERT trained. 102 Moreover, first response agency
leaders at the Los Angeles County Fire Department, Los Angeles Fire Department, Long
Beach Fire Department and Los Angeles Police Department also believe that providing
CERT training to port workers would generate substantial gains for supporting their
emergency response plans.
¸ The Los Angeles County CERT Advisory Committee should provide CERT training
to prepare workers at the port complex to respond to an attack.
Based on universal agreement between first responders, industry, labor, and
policymakers, this study recommends that the Los Angeles County CERT Advisory
Committee provide CERT training for workers at the port complex.
98
Sandra Shields, Email.
99
Luisa Gratz, interview by Seth Jacobson, San Pedro, CA, 25 February 2003.
100
Bob Dodge (Vice President of Training, Pacific Maritime Association), interview by Seth Jacobson,
Long Beach, CA, 5 March 2003.
101
Sheriff Lee Baca, interview.
102
Luisa Gratz, interview by Seth Jacobson, 25 February 2003. Bob Dodge, interview.
36 Department of Policy Studies, UCLA School of Public Policy and Social Research